The federal government has announced an Aged Care Registered Nurses’ Payment for registered nurses working in residential aged care, in-home care and Commonwealth Home Support Programme settings.  

The government initiative aims to recognise the integral role registered nurses play in the delivery of high-quality care for older Australians.  

How much is the payment? 

The payments are offered over two years.  

12 month payment: 

Registered nurses who have worked between 1 November 2021- 31 October 2022, or 1 November 2022- 31 October 2023, will be eligible for a 12 month payment and will receive $3,700. Those who meet the eligibility criteria for an additional payment of $2,300 per year.  

6 month payment: 

Registered nurses who have worked between 1 May 2022- 31 October 2022 and 1 May 2023- 31 October 2023 will be eligible for a 6 month payment and receive a half payment of $1,850. 

Additional payment: 

Registered nurses who meet the below criteria are eligible for an additional payment of $2,300 per year for a full year of employment or $1,150 per for 6 months of employment.  

Additional payment criteria: 

• Work in a rural town or community or in a remote or very remote community (Modified Monash Model classification 3-7) 

• hold a relevant formal postgraduate qualification (Graduate Certificate or higher) in nursing or gerontology; business, leadership or management; or other relevant health field  
• take on at least one of the following additional leadership or training responsibilities in your workplace:  

• infection prevention and control (IPC) lead  
• workplace/clinical supervision of undergraduate nurses 
• clinical supervision/mentoring/educating or facilitating in an Aged Care Transition to Practice Program 
• an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person who takes the lead on cultural safety training in their organisation You can only receive one additional payment per year for meeting at least one of these three criteria. 

Who is eligible for the payment? 

To be eligible for the payment you must be a registered nurse working in residential aged care, home care or Commonwealth Home Support Program settings.  

You must be employed by any of the following: 

• an approved age care provider funded by the Australian Government 
• a multi-purpose service that provides aged care services  
• a state or local government approved Residential Aged Care or Home Care Provider  

• a provider that offers aged care services under the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program  
• an agency employing aged care registered nurses to work in one or more of the above organisation types  
• self-employed nurse practitioners 

How to apply 

Aged care employers must submit an application of behalf of their staff for the payment by 14 December 2022 in order for you to receive it. Registered nurses must have worked with the same aged care provider over the eligibility period, and your employer will need to apply on your behalf by 14 December 2022. 

Download this template letter to ask your employer if they have applied on your behalf. 

Applications for the payments are currently open for work undertaken in 2022, with an additional round of payment applications due this time next year for work done in 2023. Read our FAQ guide for further details. 

NSW Health has advised the Association it intends to make applications on behalf of registered nurses working in: 

• Commonwealth Home Support Programme; 
• Transitional Aged Care Program; 

• Multi-Purpose Services; and 
• State Government Funded Residential Aged Care Facilities.  

The Association is currently lobbying the Federal Government to expand the eligibility criteria to include Enrolled Nurses and Assistants in Nursing.  

Further details about the payments are available on the Department of Health and Aged Care website.